Page 79 of Four Times Forever

"Well, speaking about getting back into stuff. Ryan mentioned that he didn't bring his camera..." Matt pulled out a massive professional camera.

Ryan jumped up. "Is that the newest release?"

"Aw, I thought he wasn't your boyfriend..." Eric teased as Ethan snickered.

"Today's about Lily..." Ethan started.

"This IS about Lily." He tilted his head.

A man, immaculately dressed, started wheeling a suitcase toward us. I looked at the guys to gauge whether or not I should be startled by this stranger. Matt gave me a smile and wiggled his brows. I furrowed mine.

Speaking in French, the man unzipped the suitcase, and my mouth fell open. All I had before was a paint palette, the primary colors in acrylic, scalpel, easel, canvas, and the necessary high-quality brushes. But this was an artist's dream.

"This is all for me?" Tears filled my eyes.

"Of course. I thought that IF Ryan and I hook up, not only could we film it, but he could photograph it for your personal collection." He moved closer so that he could whisper against my lips.

"Ugh. Come on. We're about to have breakfast," Ethan groaned.

"Shut up. You're just jealous," Ryan jested.

"Jealous of who? You and Ryan? Ha!" Ethan laughed in the background of Matt's hypnotic stare.

"Why are you so bad?" I moaned, just as Matt moved in the rest of the way to claim a kiss.

Yup, that damp spot was definitely going to be there now. Thanks a lot, Matt.

"Didn't I hear you say something about liking bad guys?" He smiled.

"I never said that. I like good guys. And it doesn't get any better than you. All of you." I ran my fingers through Matt's freshly cut short brown hair.

"Well, we can't help being perfect." Eric's hand found mine under the table.

I grinned. "Now, my gift's going to be cheesy."

Ethan reached across the table and took my hand. "I'm sure it's going to be priceless."

"And perfect. Just like you." Matt leaned in for a kiss.

"Don't you mean you?" I threw my arms around his neck. "All of you." I smiled at each of them.

Yes, I knew I was including Ryan in that all, okay? And it wasn't because I'd suddenly lost my memory. But he didn't actually hit me, did he? He almost did. And yes, it was terrifying that there could be a next time that he would.

But we were in Paris, okay? Let me live.

By all of his friends' accounts, Ryan wasn't violent before and something had shifted in him since the kidnapping. I knew that didn't excuse it. But for some reason, I couldn't see him the way I saw Marco and my serpent dead 'dad'. Maybe that meant I still had some healing to do.

For now, though, could I just exist in the fantasy of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, my four beautiful men whom I loved, even if I couldn't bring myself to fully surrender my heart and body to Ryan, yet? Tell me that was allowed.

With a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and looked into their encouraging faces. "Okay, so I know I'm no pro, but I wanted to do something that would honor you." My cheeks heated. My heart was pounding. It's so silly that I'm nervous, I thought to myself, smiling. "You know those videos I've been filming? I put them in a vlog. I figured when you guys start filming again, maybe I can be a part of the journey. We can get our own little ship name." I squinted my eyes at Eric who chuckled.

"I thought I took those videos with my ex down." He pondered.

"You did. But the people in the comments won't let it go," I started.

"You checked?" He interrupted me with a grin.

"Of course I did." I pursed my lips. "And whoever isn't still pining after your old relationship, they're pining after all of you. I thought I'd fix that."

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